13. Duke: The good news: Just about everyone’s back, including Gerald Henderson. The bad news: Just about everyone’s back.

12. Texas: A.J. Abrams pulled out of the draft just before the deadline.

11. Georgetown: Dropped the Hoyas two spots from the early-May rankings.

10. Purdue: Lots of returnees, including Robbie Hummel. Should be a three-team race for the Big Ten title with Michigan State and Ohio State.

9: Texas A&M: DeAndre Jordan’s gone but Josh Carter is back, and he was he better college player, anyhow.

8. Gonzaga: Jeremy Pargo’s decision to pull out of the draft gives the Zags one of their best lineups ever. Austin Daye is bound for the Lottery in ’09.

7. Marquette: After comparing what the Eagles return on the perimeter to that of other teams in this range, had to move ’em up a few spots.

6. Florida: Even without Marreese Speights, Gators will be loaded.

5. UCLA: Lost Love, Westbrook and Mbah a Moute. Retained Collison and Shipp. Return Roll and Keefe. Welcome the best recruiting class in the country.

4. Michigan State: Three of the top-four scorers (Raymar Morgan, Kalin Lucas and Goran Suton) are back from a Sweet 16 team that won 27 games. And recruit Delvon Roe will help immediately on the frontline.

unc higher, louisville lower, and what happened to notre dame? i say notre dame be #3

Bill Nye

let’s add some science!

I just love basketball

cocoamcbutters

Whoa! Memphis #18 !?! Ya’ll are in for a rude awakening…

Go Tigers!

MJ

I guess if the Gaels had beat Miami in the first round you would have included Saint Mary’s in the group just missing the cut. What was lost in Golden and T. Smith will likely be made up in the return of Wayne Hunter and the contributions of Ben Allen. Even Colin Chiverton might make a freshman contribution as well. On paper and on the court – this is the most gifted team fielded since the 1958-59 team, and likely better this time come March